After “numerous” violations of fraternity policies
and guidelines by officers and members, the UCLA chapter of Theta
Xi has been placed on dormant status until fall 2007, according to
a statement by the national chapter.
Robert Naples, assistant vice chancellor of student and campus
life, said UCLA had looked into allegations against the fraternity
and then contacted the national organization.
During spring quarter, Theta Xi was placed on suspension for
alcohol violations, Naples said. At the end of the quarter, members
violated the suspension and the national organization began to
discuss moving the chapter to inactive status.
“After (the suspension) occurred, there was another
incident that we weren’t really involved with or know too
much about where the national organization felt that what occurred
violated their risk management policy,” Naples said.
He said it was at that point that the national organization of
Theta Xi contacted the university requesting that the UCLA chapter
be placed on dormant status and return for the 2007-2008 academic
year.
Risk management is an insurance that all national greek
organizations carry and use to educate their chapters on certain
activities they can and cannot do because they could pose a
financial threat to them, Naples said.
Executive director of Theta Xi Fraternity James Vredenburgh said
the policy prohibits hazing, alcohol and firearms and promotes
human dignity, health and safety.
“Apparently, (the local chapter) got involved in some sort
of activity that the national organization felt was a violation of
that policy,” Naples said.
Vredenburgh would not comment on the incidents leading up to the
Theta Xi’s national board of directors decision to make the
chapter inactive.
Theta Xi has transferred all current undergraduate members to
alumni in good standing with the fraternity, Vredenburgh said.
In addition to ceasing all activities, all brothers of the
fraternity are required to move out of the house and take residence
elsewhere, Naples said.
Vredenburgh said the UCLA chapter house is owned by a local
alumni chapter. They have selected a property management firm that
will temporarily convert it into a boarding house.
Nishant Bhargava, a third-year electrical engineering student
and member of Theta Xi, said the hardest part is losing the
housing.
“It’s close to campus and cheap to live in.
That’s a major issue for a lot of people. This was the best
option for a lot of brothers,” Bhargava said.
Since the members of the fraternity were given notice at the end
of July, members are just beginning to explore alternative housing
options.
Bhargava said since they received such late notice, he is
concerned that the only type of housing that he will be able to
find will either be far from campus or very expensive.
He also said the brothers have not been told the details
regarding the decision to make the chapter inactive.
However, Vredenburgh said members of the local Theta Xi chapter
have been notified as to the reasons why the action has
occurred.
Vredenburgh said waiting a couple years before reactivating the
chapter will allow recruitment of a whole new generation of
students.
Naples said the chapter will find success in returning to
campus.
“The campus is confident that, following the period of
“˜dormant status,’ the fraternity will return to the
UCLA community with a renewed sense of fraternal values and
commitment to the larger goals and mission of Theta Xi,”
Naples said.
Vredenburgh said a decision has not been reached as to whether
or not members who will still be students at UCLA when the chapter
is made active again will regain active status.
The UCLA Theta Xi chapter was chartered on April 7, 1928 and has
initiated over 1,400 members, according to a press release.
Theta Xi Fraternity has undergraduate chapters and colonies on
55 campuses throughout the United States and over 66,000 members
since its founding in 1864.